Varia Metal

Varia Metal is a two-player vertical scrolling shooter released in 1995 by Excellent System. Players control spacecraft and navigate through increasingly challenging levels filled with enemy formations and metallic structures. The game utilizes an 8-way joystick for movement and three buttons to manage firing and other actions as they battle their way upwards, confronting relentless waves of adversaries. Originally intended for release in Japan, only prototype versions were distributed there due to concerns about the game’s quality compared to other shoot 'em ups on the market. The Japanese prototype offered a unique experience with its distinct voice acting and storyline not found in other releases. Programmers K Ishiguri and F Satou contributed to the development alongside others listed, while graphic design was handled by a team including T Yamanaka and S Iwaya. Sound effects were composed by T Inoue, utilizing chips like the OKI6295 and ES8712 for audio output. The game’s technical foundation rests on a Motorola 68000 processor running at 16 MHz. Licensed to New Way Trading for manufacturing and distribution, Varia Metal provides cooperative gameplay where two players can simultaneously engage in the fast-paced aerial combat.